Thrissur Rural Police apprehends over 100 absconding convicts
Thrissur (Kerala), Mar 20 (PTI): Thrissur Rural Police on Friday said it has caught more than 100 convicts who had been absconding for years after being sentenced by courts for varying terms of imprisonment.
Police said that those caught included convicts sentenced in cases in 2001, 2007 and 2009.
The convicts were caught through a special inspection called 'Operation Iron Grip' led by Rural District Police Chief B Krishnakumar, it said.
All those caught were produced before various courts and handed over for sentencing, it added.
Even those who had evaded the police for more than two decades were among those caught, police said.
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The courts concerned had issued non-bailable warrants for the arrest of convicts in several cases of petty crimes registered in various stations of Thrissur Rural Police district in the years 2001, 2007, 2009 and 2015 and cheque bounce incidents from 2000 to 2018, after they went absconding, it said.
The accused, who were absconding in various places, were arrested by special investigation teams from various police station limits and produced before the various courts.
Krishnakumar, in a police statement, said that strict action will continue in the coming days against those who disrupt the peaceful atmosphere of society and those who defy the law and are in hiding.
He also said that special inspections like 'Operation Iron Grip' will continue in order to prevent goonda activities and bring the accused, who are absconding despite the courts issuing warrants in various cases, to justice.
Strict legal action will be taken against those who help criminals and facilitate them to go into hiding, police said.
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CM Siddaramaiah alleges ‘criminal conspiracy’ in Sringeri recount, vows legal action
Bengaluru (PTI): Alleging a “criminal conspiracy” by BJP candidate D N Jeevaraj in the Sringeri Assembly poll recounting, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said the outcome was manipulated after valid postal ballot votes in favour of Congress leader T D Raje Gowda were tampered with during the recounting process.
Following a Karnataka High Court order on an election petition filed by Jeevaraj, challenging Raje Gowda’s election, the reverification and recounting were conducted on Saturday.
After the reverification and recount of postal ballots for the Sringeri Assembly constituency, votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda were reduced by 255, the returning officer said.
A report on the matter has been submitted to the Election Commission of India for further action, the officer added.
Congress leader Raje Gowda had won the 2023 Assembly polls from Sringeri by 201 votes, defeating his nearest rival Jeevaraj.
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said the High Court had directed the recounting of postal ballots and that irregularities were noticed during the exercise conducted on May 2.
“This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” Siddaramaiah said, alleging that valid votes cast in favour of Raje Gowda were altered after being accepted by counting agents of all parties, including Congress, BJP, and JD(S).
He claimed that during the recounting of postal ballots, 255 votes were initially accepted as valid by all agents but were later tampered with by subordinate officials.
“There is a second mark on the votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda. They had accepted these as valid votes. Subsequently, another mark was made by officials. This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” he said.
When asked who was behind the alleged conspiracy, the CM replied, “It was hatched by Jeevaraj and others. It is planned.”
Siddaramaiah further alleged that the returning officer acted improperly by declaring the result despite the presence of an Election Commission observer during the recounting.
“Immediately after the counting, the returning officer announced the result. He should not have done so; this is against the law,” he said.
He pointed out that Raje Gowda had originally won by 201 votes, but after the recounting, the BJP candidate was declared the winner by 52 votes.
“The BJP has committed a criminal act of conspiracy. This is not vote chori but vote dacoity,” he alleged.
The CM said a police complaint had already been filed by Raje Gowda’s election agent, Sudhir Kumar, and emphasised the need for electoral integrity.
“We want transparency and free and fair elections. That is what our Constitution mandates,” he added.
Stating that the government would pursue legal remedies, Siddaramaiah said, “We are preparing an appeal challenging the returning officer’s announcement in a court of law.”
Responding to a separate query on elections in other states, the CM said there appeared to be an anti-incumbency factor in West Bengal, while results in Tamil Nadu were “surprising,” adding that Vijay’s party was emerging as the largest there.
Following the victory of party candidates in Bagalkote and Davanagere South, Siddaramaiah expressed confidence about future electoral prospects in Karnataka.
“Even in 2028, we will win the Assembly elections. We will come back,” the CM said.
Siddaramaiah added that he would order a forensic examination into the alleged tampering of postal ballots.
